Micro Nixie Controller board

[M.J.Sangster]

I'm planning on building and possibly selling a micro nixie controller board. The idea is to create the smallest possible Nixie controller board that can drive 6 Nixies (3x2 multiplexing).

I am posting this to see if the feature set of the board makes sense, or if I am missing anything.

Here is a link to preliminary information:

Micro Nixie Controller Board

Thanks!

[blkadder]

I really like the idea of a very small board.  This will make tucking everything inside a smaller enclosure be much easier.  I know there are a few clock kits out there that use a fairly small board, like the glowingtech and even the Ardruinx kits.  I would be interested to see how much it would retail for.  Keep us informed.

Ron

...Semper Fidelis...

[John Rehwinkel]

> I'm planning on building and possibly selling a micro nixie controller board. The idea is to create the smallest possible Nixie controller board that can drive 6 Nixies (3x2 multiplexing).
>
> I am posting this to see if the feature set of the board makes sense, or if I am missing anything.

Looks fairly well thought out to me, I just have a few thoughts:

The 0-80 screw holes are pretty tiny, even if takes more room, perhaps 2-56 might be more reasonable.

I noticed the connectors are 2mm pitch, but the hole positions are given in inches. Just an observation - if it were my board, the connectors would be 0.1" pitch but the holes would be hard millimeter positions.

Of course, you could go with metric screws too - M1 would be similar size to the 0-80, or M2 would be larger (similar to 1-64).

I'm a fan of bipolar neon colons, so the glow hops back and forth between electrodes every second or half second - that takes a couple of extra transistors.

What do the switch inputs return to, +5 or ground? Is there an on-board pullup or pulldown? Will they need to be debounced?

What sort of input is expected for temperature? Just 10mV/degree C or somesuch?

A dedicated high voltage shutdown input might be nice.

- John

[M.J.Sangster]

I think I will change the screws to 2-56 - the 0-80's ARE small.

I used 2mm spaced connectors due to size constraints. However, I will list the dimensions in metric.

The inputs have pullups, so a switch to ground is all that is needed. They are debounced in software.

Temperature inputs will work with a MCP9700A, TO92 case. They cost around 30 cents and are accurate

The light sensor works with a TEPT4400 light sensor, about 50 cents.

I'll update the web page with I/O interface circuits to use with the board.

 

[Dekatron42]

I like what John wrote above: "Just an observation - if it were my board, the connectors would be 0.1" pitch but the holes would be hard millimeter positions.".

 

/Martin

[Jim_Z]

Needs a GPS input.

[Jack Buechler]

It does not matter how accurate or stable the clock is - if it set incorrectly at the start to a non-precise reference it will accurately show the wrong time.
The offset will be maintained for a very long time.

Therefore the use of a GPS input becomes important.

The combination of your great work and precision, makes these types of clocks very useful as timepieces.

I strongly urge you to offer GPS input as at least an option.

Please also do not forget to include the ability to add offsets +- in hours and minutes so that the clock can be used worldwide not everyone is in the EST time zone

-----Original Message-----
From: neoni...@googlegroups.com [mailto:neoni...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Jim_Z
Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 10:15 PM
To: neoni...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [neonixie-l] Re: Micro Nixie Controller board

Needs a GPS input.

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[M.J.Sangster]

My board will support GPS input - I have the necessary pins (Rx, Tx) to talk to a GPS module. It will be an option with the board.

 

[Jack Buechler]

Well I will be interested in one then for sure.

 

From: neoni...@googlegroups.com [mailto:neoni...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of M.J.Sangster
Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2013 2:52 PM
To: neoni...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [neonixie-l] Re: Micro Nixie Controller board

 

 

My board will support GPS input - I have the necessary pins (Rx, Tx) to talk to a GPS module. It will be an option with the board.

 

 

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[M.J.Sangster]

I'm freezing my design, and have uploaded a revised preliminary overview of the board on:

Micro Nixie board prelim specs

The next step is to order a proto board and begin testing. My software is about 90% complete (need to write GPS support and 4 digit clock support next).

I'll keep everyone informed of my progress.

- Michael Sangster

 

Cold War Creations

[blkadder]

I really like the features that you have listed for this board.  I am interested in one for sure.  I think I would have to add the GPS module as well, as none of my current nixie clocks have that feature.  I am looking forward to seeing how your testing goes.

Ron

On Tuesday, May 21, 2013 4:06:53 PM UTC-4, M.J.Sangster wrote:

[Dekatron42]

I still want to push for the 0.1" spacing on contacts as that makes it possible to use the card with a prototype board on top, making a sandwich construction like the arduino shield - having 2mm pitch makes that impossible as there are almost no prototype boards that have 2mm pitch.

 

/Martin

[M.J.Sangster]

I gave the 0.1" connectors some thought, and here is what I have come up with:

1. The reason I went with 2mm spacing connectors is to meet the small board size requested with many features (GPS, 6 digits, analog inputs, etc). The 26 pin 0.1" is too big for this application.

2. The cost of 2mm connectors seems to be about the same if not lower than the 0.1"

3. However, I understand why you want 0.1" connectors - proto boards.

I have thought of a solution that I can offer as an accessory when the board is ready for sale. I could build an adapter that would be a small circuit card with a 2mm spaced headers on one side, and 0.1" connectors on the other side (the 2 0.1" connectors would be spaced so as to fit into a 0.1" proto board. It would not be bigger than the micro board, and have a low profile.

Or a cable with a 0.1" connector on one end, and the other side could have the wires soldered to the micro nixie board instead of a 2mm connector.

Would this work?

[Smiffy]

> My board will support GPS input - I have the necessary pins (Rx, Tx) to talk to a GPS module. It will be an option with the board.

Since you have digital IO available as well, may I suggest a provision in the firmware for PPS input, so you can do full-blown GPS sync?

[David Forbes]

On 5/23/2013 1:29 PM, M.J.Sangster wrote:
> I gave the 0.1" connectors some thought, and here is what I have come up
> with:
>
> 1. The reason I went with 2mm spacing connectors is to meet the small board
> size requested with many features (GPS, 6 digits, analog inputs, etc). The
> 26 pin 0.1" is too big for this application.

There is a lot of empty space on the board beyond the big capacitor/inductor to
the right of connector 1. I believe that with a bit of sliding around, you could
fit a 0.1" connector there.

I may be wrong, since I can't see the copper tracks. But my board layout
intuition tells me that there is room for a bigger connector.

You would have more work to do to make connector 2 be 0.1", due to that chip
right next to it.

--
David Forbes, Tucson, AZ

[M.J.Sangster]

I'm not sure if I could fit the 26 pin 0.1" connector, it would fit length wise, but may increase my board width. The problem is the 8 pin connector - I could do it if I went to a 4 layer board, but still would have to increase the length.

My original connector selection for the I/O was a Molex pico blade (1.25mm centers), I use those on my Glass Nixie clock, but you really need the $300 crimper for that connector.....

 

[threeneurons]

Looks good. Go for it. You'll always forget something. That's what future revisions are for. Nothing like letting them out in the real world to find out what they are. Just as long as its basically reliable, and doesn't melt peoples nixies, you'll get a following.

[M.J.Sangster]

Quick update on the universal clock PCB, MicroBoard1:

1. Received the proto board, successfully built the board.

2. Tested power supply, working with 180v @ 11mA, 83% efficient.

3. Micro was successfully programmed. (tested program connection and power to micro).

4. Prelim software complete (6 digit clock, no GPS).

Next steps:

1. Build harness with 6 IN-8 tubes and sockets for testing.

2. Test software.

3. Add GPS support to software. I'm using Adafruit GPS (Adafruit Ultimate GPS Breakout: www.adafruit.com/products/746), others probably will work, too.

Revisions/additions for production board:

1. Change 8 pin I/O connector to 10 pin I/O connector (board size stays the same). Better I/O options, especially with GPS present.

2. Design piggy back boards for the MicroBoard1: IN-17, B5750: 6 digit clock boards with optional GPS.

- Michael Sangster

Cold War Creations

[blkadder]

Hey Michael,
I was sniffing around the board, and remembered I starred this project.  I know this may be a zombie thread, but I am curious if you have made any progress with this one.  I have an Ardruinx that I would love to add a GPS function to the clock.

Thanks for any updates.

Ron

On Tuesday, May 21, 2013 4:06:53 PM UTC-4, M.J.Sangster wrote:

[M.J.Sangster]

Ron,

I have the board design complete and I am currently testing the software - I like to make sure the software gets a complete test, which takes a little time.

Next week I will launch a Kick Start program so I can build a decent quantity of boards at a low price.

I'll keep you informed.

- Michael Sangster

I have a more up to date thread on tube clock database (http://www.tubeclockdb.com/forum/Builders-Forum/5153-Tiny-universal-clock-PCB.html).

[Tidak Ada]

Hi Michael,

 

Please can you give me more information on that board? Especially a link to the thread where it started, but other interesting threads and other information is of course also welcome.

 

Do you announce the publication on Kick-Start here on this forum?

 

eric

---

From: neoni...@googlegroups.com [mailto:neoni...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of M.J.Sangster

Sent: vrijdag 14 februari 2014 15:49

To: neoni...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [neonixie-l] Re: Micro Nixie Controller board

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[M.J.Sangster]

Eric,

The thread started on the tube clock database forum that I put on my previous post.

I have a link to more info on the board here: www.coldwarcreations.com/microboard/microboard.html This sums up the board, and I will post more info on the site next week.

I will post the Kick start info on this forum and the tube clock database forum.

- Michael

[M.J.Sangster]

A quick update, the Microboard is now running a 100 hour endurance test using IN-8 tubes. Attached are a few pictures showing my proto board using a wire harness to 6 IN-8 tubes.

- Michael Sangster

Cold War Creations

On Tuesday, May 21, 2013 3:06:53 PM UTC-5, M.J.Sangster wrote:

[alex nolan]

Did you create those sockets for the tubes yourself?

[M.J.Sangster]

No, those are IN-8/IN-2 Russian tube sockets glued to a acrylic plate.

[M.J.Sangster]

Microboard update:

I received my pre-production board, for demo purposes for Kickstart video/photos. It is identical to the boards I will order, except no solder mask. I will build it early next week.

Added a few more features to the software:
1. Added display off during weekends (or during weekdays).
2. Added floor LED lighting functions.
3. Added automatic DST (daylight saving time) auto adjust, for USA-Canada, Europe (EU), and Australian DST Zones.

Finished up the PCB design for a piggy back board for Burroughs B-5750 series tubes, GPS option, LED floor lighting.

I think my next piggy back board will be a IN-17 board.

Continue working on my Kickstart page.

- Michael Sangster

On Tuesday, May 21, 2013 3:06:53 PM UTC-5, M.J.Sangster wrote: